Staggering forward, I nearly collapsed. My body was in terrible shape. I coughed up another mouthful of blood and crashed to my knees with a thud. My body grew heavier and heavier, as an immense force kept surging from within, trying to burst out.
My body was on the verge of total collapse, but I had to finish off Zhang Anle. Bracing myself, I forced my body upright. Zhang Anle lay on the ground, looking like he was in agony.
With a roar, I struggled to my feet and charged at Zhang Anle. But suddenly, my legs cramped up and I lost my balance, falling once again. Zhang Anle finally managed to get up and began rapidly forming hand seals.
"I'm going to end you."
I shouted, forcing myself up and stomping hard as I charged at Zhang Anle, fist raised. The scattered mud could no longer coalesce, leaving only Zhang Anle.
"Heaven and Earth, boundless..."
Just as Zhang Anle began chanting, my fist was already at his cheek. In that instant, my strength failed and my punch veered off, but still grazed his face. With a ripping sound, Zhang Anle screamed and was sent flying; half his cheek was torn away, his facial bones caved in. He landed, clutching his eye, shrieking in pain.
I crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.
"Ethan, let me send the spirit for you—hold on, the backlash has already begun, and it's coming much faster than expected!"
Master Zachary Wu shouted from behind. I could feel it too—my body was gradually becoming unfamiliar, as if some force wanted to strip me of myself. Inside me, the Vermilion Bird, the Spirit Snake, and Zhang Jizheng's soul were all desperately holding on.
Master Zachary Wu sprang up and rushed toward me, biting his left fingertip and tracing symbols in the air.
"Disciple Zhang Wuju sincerely thanks the Nine Heavens Lady, the Northern Dipper Star Lord, the Supreme Immortal Master, all divine spirits and holy ones. May the celestial chariot descend to aid your disciple, so that my power may shake the eight directions and miracles shine forth with boundless light. Disciple Zhang Wuju respectfully sends off all heavenly ancestors and divine chariots, wishing them safe return to the celestial realm. If I should need help again, I will burn incense and invite the chariot to preside. Disciple Zhang Wuju sincerely sends off..."
After finishing the incantation, Master Zachary Wu suddenly leapt onto me and spat out a breath of golden energy. Blood from his finger dripped steadily onto my body.
At that moment, the violent, overflowing power within me began to dissipate. My form slowly returned to normal, and I heard a hearty laugh.
"Young one, this time you showed sense. Remember this debt—you must repay it."
In a daze, I heard that voice. The golden runes on my body faded, and my body returned to normal.
With a splutter, Master Zachary Wu coughed up blood.
"Master Zhang!"
I shouted in surprise. Master Zachary Wu suddenly looked ancient and frail. His once youthful features and rosy skin now resembled withered bark. He shakily sat down, crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and remained motionless.
My body felt normal, but I was utterly drained and unable to move. In the distance, Wei Chengwu lay motionless, and the mud formed by Luo Yichen was also still. Zhang Anle kept screaming in agony.
"Senior brother, you're ruthless—so ruthless! You actually used the Transformation Spirit Technique. Ha! Ethan Zhang, you've been tricked by my senior brother. This isn't a Spirit Summoning Technique at all!"
"Spit it out—you'd never say anything decent. Even if Master Zhang tricked me, he's a thousand times better than scum like you."
I roared. Zhang Anle sat up, covered in blood, and burst out laughing.
"Ha, Ethan Zhang, you'll see soon enough. The power that was originally yours has now been completely suppressed by the Transformation Spirit Technique. My senior brother didn't save you—he doomed you."
I stared at Zhang Anle in shock. I couldn't feel anything inside me, but to my surprise, my right hand and left foot had regrown, as if newly born.
At that moment, I regained some strength. Looking at my newly formed right hand, I felt a surge of emotion. I struggled to prop myself up and glanced back at the now ancient-looking Master Zachary Wu.
"Thank you, Master Zhang."
After a long while, Master Zachary Wu opened his eyes. The brilliance in them was gone, replaced by cloudiness. He looked sorrowful.
"Ethan, I'm sorry. I lied, just as my junior said—I tricked you. This wasn't a Spirit Summoning Technique, but the Transformation Spirit Technique. For decades, you shouldn't feel any trace of the ghost within you. Now, you are human..."
I stared at Master Zachary Wu in disbelief, eyes wide.
"Of course, Ethan Zhang, my senior brother..."
Shut up. Gradually, I realized my strength was returning quickly. I slowly stood and walked over to Master Zachary Wu, kneeling before him.
"No matter what, Master, thank you. You don't need to blame yourself. Human or ghost, it doesn't matter. I, Ethan Zhang, have always been human—now I've simply returned to my true nature."
As I spoke, a glimmer appeared in Master Zachary Wu's eyes. His hand, rough as old bark, gently touched my forehead.
"Ethan, it's hard, isn't it? Painful too. Living as both human and ghost—I saw the darkness in your heart, endless and vast. That darkness will destroy you someday. My old friend, Jack Zhang's son, Ethan, I don't want to see you ruined. In this ghostly path, I hope you can forgive me."
"Master..."
I called out, supporting Master Zachary Wu as he tried to bow. I shook my head.
"Thank you, thank you."
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Then I stood up. Vivian Maple had been holding Rufina Howard the whole time, never leaving her side. Rufina was still in very poor condition.
"Senior brother, the Transformation Spirit Technique is the third-ranked forbidden art in our Taoist sect. I can't believe you actually used it. Ha! You're running out of time—might die before I do."
As Zhang Anle spoke, I stared at Master Zachary Wu in shock. His complexion was terrible, like someone nearing death.
"Master..." I called again. Master Zachary Wu shook his head.
"It's all right, Ethan. Most people in the Taoist sect these days ignore worldly affairs, watching chaos unfold without caring. I just wanted to defend the Dao. Even if I die, I'm content with this outcome. It's all right, Ethan."
I choked up, looking at Master Zachary Wu, who was close to death.
At that moment, anger surged within me. I strode toward Zhang Anle, picked up a stone, and stood before his dying form. He smiled.
"Do it, Ethan Zhang. Ha."
I raised the stone, intending to smash it down on Zhang Anle's ruined head, but in the end, I tossed it aside and grabbed his collar.
"Why?"
I asked. Zhang Anle smiled.
"The Dao? Ridiculous. For centuries, what is the Dao? What are we defending? It's all meaningless. Ha."
I let go of Zhang Anle and turned away, planning to contact the others—at least to capture them. Just then, silver snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and the air instantly turned icy cold. I shivered.
"Since you're here, come out and help, Luo Yu."
It was Luo Yichen's voice. I looked up in surprise at the falling silver snowflakes—they were highly unnatural.
At that moment, I sensed someone behind me. Turning, I saw a strikingly handsome man in a black robe—Luo Yu. His eyes were cold, his long black hair fluttered in the wind, and his gaze made me feel as if I were in an ice cellar.
I clenched my fist, but before I could react, Luo Yu suddenly moved. In a flash, I felt myself being swept up in an embrace.
"Hey, you two—don't go too far."
A familiar, irritating voice—Lance Quinn, of course. He held me in his arms.
"What are you staring at? Ethan Zhang, how's it feel to be carried like a princess? That's VIP treatment!"
I was instantly furious. Staring at Lance Quinn's smug face, I raised my fist and swung at him.
Suddenly, Lance Quinn let go, and I yelped as I crashed to the ground.
"Brother Quinn, good to see you."
Luo Yu spoke, bowing, while Lance Quinn immediately started cursing.
"Damn it, Luo Yu, Luo Yichen, you two bastards—get lost! If I didn't care about old times, I'd kill you both right now and not bother dragging you back. You dogs piss me off. Get out of my sight!"
I forgot about my sore backside as Lance Quinn grinned and cursed, while Luo Yu's face remained unchanged. Luo Yichen, however, started to laugh.
"Little Quinn, no need to get angry. Besides, you aren't really mad, ha. Enough talk, let's go, Luo Yu. If this guy loses his temper, we really won't get away."
Luo Yu spoke, bowing and slowly retreating.
"Brother Quinn, sorry. Please tell the boss our betrayal was unavoidable."
As he spoke, a mist filled with ice crystals appeared. In an instant, Wei Chengwu, Zhang Anle, and the mud-formed Luo Yichen completely vanished.
"Why did you let them escape?"
I stared at Lance Quinn in surprise. Wasn't the Moonlight Clan looking for them?
At that moment, Lance Quinn's smug grin vanished, replaced by what seemed like anger—though it was hard to tell, since he showed no emotion.
"This is the last time. Third time's the charm—if I see you two again, I'll kill you."